Crusaders bring Veainu in as cover on the wing

Crusaders Head Coach Todd Blackadder has called Telusa Veainu into the Crusaders squad and immediately named him in the team to face the Highlanders in a trial match.

Veainu, was a member of the last three winning Canterbury ITM Cup teams and has also been part of the Highlanders wider training squad and has been called into the Crusaders squad on an interim contract as cover for the outside backs.

The Crusaders depth on the wing has been hit as 2012 wing Sean Maitland now
plays in Scotland and Zac Guildford has withdrawn from the Crusaders squad for
personal reasons. In addition Kurt Baker injured himself playing Sevens in Wellington
leaving the Crusaders short of depth out wide.

Blackadder has named second five-eighth Ryan Crotty as captain for the Crusaders second pre-season game which takes place on Friday 8th February at the Whitestone Contracting Stadium in Oamaru at 4.30pm.

Canterbury's Johnny McNicholl has been named on the left wing as he has recovered from a back injury.

The team features a number of All Blacks as Wyatt Crockett, Luke Romano and Israel Dagg return to line up after missing the loss to the Hurricanes in Timaru.

Interestingly Dagg has been named in an unfamiliar position for him at 13 while Tom Marshall starts the trial match at fullback.